Mitford Heaven



Jan talking with an admirer.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet one of my all time favorite authors, Jan Karon. Becky,   her neighbor Kathy and myself  headed to the Decatur First Baptist Church to hear Jan Karon talk about her new novel, In the Company of Others. We had a great time.  Becky and Kathy had heard her before and had met her sister, Brenda.  Becky happened to  see Brenda ( who was scoping out the empty seats next to us) and invited her to come and join us.  I can't remember the last time that I had so much fun and laughed so much.  I felt like I was talking to an old friend, with Brenda and when Jan started talking I felt "at home". 

I remember the first time I ever heard her name, I had just become a media specialist, and I was visiting with a friend who was  giving me pointers on being a my new job; while at lunch we were talking about adult novels that we liked and she mentioned Jan Karon and the Mitford series.  I thought they sounded nice and would maybe someday read them.  A few weeks later while at the public library I just happened to see the first one and checked it out.  I was totally hooked.  I couldn't believe that I had not read them before.  The only good thing about discovering them late was the fact that most of the books were out and I didn't have to wait with baited breathe for each one to be published.  I hated for each one to end.  I feel like the people in Mitford are my friends and neighbors.  I have convinced several people to read the series and have never met anyone who didn't like them.  Can't recommend them enough.